Indianapolis Plastics

Indianapolis, or “Indy”, is the capital of Indiana and the most populated city in the state. The city’s economy is comprised mainly on the sectors of education, health care, finance, insurance, government, manufacturing and wholesale trade. However, the city has developed rather niche markets in amateur sports and auto racing. This is because the city is most famous for hosting the world’s largest single-day sporting event every year – The Indianapolis 500.

Indianapolis Plastics Provider

Polymershapes has been a premier distributor of plastic tube, rod, sheet and film for over 70 years. And with a facility located within city limits, we’re proud to be a trusted provider of Indianapolis plastics. With The Indianapolis 500 bringing together thousands of fans each year, it’s become more important for racers to optimize their cars for speed while maintaining their safety.

Plastics in Automotives

Traditionally, cars have been built mainly out of metal materials. However, modern cars now contain the most plastic than ever before. This is for a multitude of reasons, the most important being fuel economy. Lighter cars require less fuel to power. And because plastic weighs less than metal, it makes sense that swapping out metals for plastic would result in lighter cars. About 50% of cars are now created using plastic pieces, which only account for 10% of the car’s total weight. Making a lighter car not only lessens fuel costs, it also allows the car to reach higher speeds faster. Which is ideal for a race car.

However, speed isn’t the only factor that’s important among racers. A fast car isn’t worth much if it doesn’t still protect the driver. There are many plastics available that are fully flame, smoke, heat release and toxicity compliant. They’re also easier to fabricate than metal, allowing for intricate pieces to be crafted around a sturdy steel frame. In addition to lasting longer and requiring less maintenance than other materials, plastics can also be created in a variety of colors, patterns and textures.

As a premier Indianapolis plastics provider, Polymershapes is proud to be part of such a diverse and expanding community. And with so many new solutions being engineered for automotive use, we’re excited about how we can better serve our customers in the future.